The year is 2045. All the things that humanity worried about; climate change, eco destruction and gross inequalities between the haves and have nots, have come to fruition. Earth is a dying planet and the only escape is OASIS, a virtual world where most of life happens now.

For Wade Watts, who lives in a stacked container apartment with his abusive guardian, OASIS is where he goes to school and where he meets his friends and is the place where anything important happens. So he is shocked when the reclusive creator of OASIS dies and leaves his fortune to anyone who can solve the bewildering and confusing puzzles he left behind. Wade decides to enter the contest and is gratified to find that the puzzles are based on the OASIS creator’s love of classical pop culture. Since Wade is also interested in this arcane topic he feels he may have a leg up on his competition, that is until he finds out that some of his best virtual friends are also in the hunt.

This is a ridiculously fun and unexpectedly satisfying read. I was hesitant, since I am not all that into computer games, or virtual reality for the matter, but maybe having to be on Zoom all the time this past year has given me a much better appreciation for immersive virtual reality and, as I say this, I realize how completely fuddy duddy I sound!  Wade and his friends begin to emerge from behind their virtual personalities and are developed into interesting and defined characters. Cline keeps the suspense and adrenaline going with each new clue and does a great job in describing the various virtual worlds in which the answers are found. This is the first in a series of YA novels by Cline and if you have a tween in your family it might be fun to read this together or just go ahead and read it on your own!

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Lauren, Marian, Keith and Ken.

Books study worthy? Sure, with kids included!

Read in e-library format.